LAs Won’t Stand for Monkey Business

Todd DavisBack in August I suggested landscape architects could be replaced with trained monkeys. Go figure, some people took offense.

A few were quite vocal with their displeasure (howler monkeys?). But most people realized my point wasn’t that lower primates could do an LA’s job. Rather, I was addressing the need to educate these professionals.

My favorite e-mail came from an architect in New York named Richard Gibney. He agreed with me that many LAs need more education. Richard also has a degree in horticulture, is a horticulture instructor and a certified arborist, as well as an LA.

He also has several complaints about nurserymen. “Bring them on,” was my response. I welcomed the opportunity to hear the other side.

And guess what, his complaints were things that I run into on a regular basis. So, just for kicks, here’s Richard’s complaint list about “nursery monkeys.”

Too deep
I could have called this one. Richard doesn’t like receiving B&B trees with the root flare buried 5 inches below the soil line. Inevitably, contractors won’t catch this and the trees end up planted way too deep.

Thankfully this problem has an easy fix. All field growers should properly plant their liners and shave the tops of their root balls at harvest. If you’re buying from growers planting improperly and not shaving their balls, then find different vendors.

Richard’s second complaint also has an easy fix. He’s understandably furious when he’s sold plants that aren’t true to name. Let’s say Richard wants Cultivar X on his job, only what’s delivered and planted is a similar cultivar but different in flower color or growth habit.

That’s bad news. Even worse is when this isn’t discovered until years later when Richard has to purchase something that matches what’s currently at the site. Trying to chase down the mystery cultivar has to be a nightmare.

Let’s sell plants true to name. Mistakes happen, but if a nursery is a perennial offender, it should be banned from the league.

Snake oil sales
I can relate to the next one. Richard pointed out how much he dislikes being dragged to a muddy, unmanaged, overgrown nursery field to be shown trees or shrubs “that not only meet, but exceed, his specifications.”

Richard is then told by both the grower and the contractor how much of a bargain these trees — picked over, overgrown and irregular — are for him and his clients. They get more for the money!

So Richard wastes an entire day and probably ruins a nice pair of shoes to look over the bottom of some nursery’s barrel. I hope he at least gets a good lunch out of the deal.

Here’s a final gripe (for now) from Richard: A nursery’s salesperson swears he can supply everything Richard needs on his plant list.

After a period of time, he gets a quote from the guy only to have half the material subbed out with something smaller than specified, or an entirely different plant. I agree with Richard. This would infuriate me too.

One, if somebody asks for a quote for plant material, give them the common courtesy to reply as quickly as possible. Don’t leave them hanging.

Secondly, don’t lead them to believe you can supply something when you know you can’t. When you receive a plant list, glance over it. If you spot a species or size that’s not available, let the client know right away.

Don’t mislead them, and don’t give them any surprises. Minimize the monkey business, and everybody will be better off.